ESRC: New Investigator Grants

New Investigator Grants form one element of ESRC's support for early career researchers and the scheme is specifically aimed at supporting those looking to make the transition to an independent researcher through managing their first major research project. These grants replace the ESRC Future Research Leaders scheme.

The call is open to high-quality candidates from anywhere in the world who have a maximum of four years’ postdoctoral experience and the support of an eligible UK research organisation. Grants ranging from £100,000 to £300,000 full Economic Cost (fEC) can be awarded.

Proposals are welcomed across the full disciplinary range of the social sciences and at the interface with the wider sciences, however the social sciences must represent at least 50 per cent of the research focus and effort.

The call will operate alongside ESRC’s Research Grants open call and you can submit proposals at any time - there are no fixed closing dates. ESRC aim to announce the majority of decisions within 26 weeks of receiving the proposal although they cannot guarantee this, since it is dependent on receiving sufficient good quality peer review comments within the necessary timescale. 

For the full call text please visit the ESRC grant call webpage.